Attempt to revive Covid-hit Dhokra tribal craft in Odisha

Dokra or Dhokra is a non-ferrous metal casting that has been used in India for over 4,000 years. Alluringly, the handicraft is still prepared by hand by village artisans of Odisha, without the involvement of any machines. Anwesha tribal arts and crafts have scaled up their production with the village artisans to knit up the lost period due to the pandemic.

Dokra or Dhokra is a non-ferrous metal casting that has been used in India for over 4,000 years and is still continuing. One of the earliest known lost wax artefacts is the dancing girl of Mohenjo-daro.

Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the tribal craft in a big way, especially those in rural tribal interiors. The artisans have been reeling under the Covid-19 crisis since its outbreak in 2020. To add to their woes, the second and the third waves of the Covid pandemic gave a devastating blow to thousands of artisans, workers and weavers across odisha, thus putting the livelihood of over 3000 odd workers depending on it at stake.

There was complete severance of the production to sales cycle, since most of their products belonged to the non-essential category and they were unable to sell them during the Covid induced lockdown.

‘Dokra’ or Dhokra is a typical tribal craft in bronze with its mesh-like features giving it a distinctive beauty. The socio-religious links to the Dhokra craft are strong in Hindu society, which dates back to the prehistoric times of the Harappa and Mohenjo-daro periods of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Notably, during different festivals like manobasa and laxmi puja, the Dokra materials are purchased and worshipped in the house.

Alluringly, the handicraft is still prepared by hand by village artisans of Odisha, without the involvement of any machines.

The products of Dhokra artisans are religious images, elephants, horses, peacocks, owls, lamps, bowls, which are very popular and in great demand in local markets as well as foreign markets.